Perani main reason Draper joined TPG

There were several good reasons for Kris Draper to become a part-owner of the Flint Generals.

It could turn out to be a good investment if the Generals rebound under the new ownership group as many people expect them to do.

Draper will get a taste of the business end of hockey if he decides to stay in the game when he finally hangs up his Detroit Red Wings jersey in a few years.

And there's nothing like doing business with good buddies like Ron Sanko, the Generals director of hockey operations, and Jeremy Piper, the club's legal counsel.

But more than anything, there was one thing that made Draper's decision to get into the ownership business a no-brainer.

And that's being affiliated with Bob Perani, managing partner of The Perani Group.

"That was the thing," Draper said from his off-season home in Toronto. "When I heard Bob was getting involved, he has a lot respect in the hockey business and hockey world. Being 36 years old, you never know how long your career is going to be.

"I had an opportunity to get involved in the business end of hockey, learn how things run, and I'm interested in that. The game has been so good to me. It's something I've done my whole life. When I'm finished playing, just because my career comes to an end doesn't mean I'm done with hockey."

For the most part, Draper will be a silent partner who follows the Generals from afar --- either via the Internet or by speaking to Sanko, Piper or Chuck Glasscock, another good friend who is a Perani's Hockey World vice president and the man who put TPG together.

That said, Draper has already thrown a few ideas out for TPG to consider. Namely, making Flint an attractive place for the players.

"He wants to take care of the players," Glasscock said., "He wasn't to give back to the game. He wants to make sure the guys are treated right. Just because they're minor-league hockey players doesn't mean they're not people.

"His commitment is to the Detroit Red Wings. But he's making an impact with things he thinks we should do with the team and the players. Things we should do for them to make it a first-class operation, not just another minor-league team."

One thing Draper wants to make clear is that the Red Wings and his family are his No. 1 priorities.
When he's not on the ice next winter, Draper wants to spend as much free time as possible with his wife and children. That won't leave much time for him to make the trip up I-75 to watch the Generals.

Draper didn't rule out the possibility he'd take in a game or two, but he didn't want to make any promises only to end up disappointing Flint fans.

He is, however, no stranger to the United-turned-International Hockey League.

During the NHL lockout a couple of years ago, Draper skated in practice with the Motor City Mechanics after the defunct UHL club signed teammates Chris Chelios and Derian Hatcher as well as fellow NHLers Bryan Smolinski and Sean Avery.

He even attended a Motor City-Generals game at Perani Arena when Hatcher made his UHL debut and was impressed with the overall product.

"I saw the support that they had," Draper said. "These guys love the game of hockey and that's something I certainly respect. These guys are still going to the rink and playing at the professional level. You can see they have a great desire and passion to play the game.

"These guys go to the rink and compete every day with the opportunity of trying to better themselves and use the (International) League as a stepping stone to see whether they can get to the American League."

After undergoing hernia surgery six weeks ago, Draper recently began working out in preparation for next season, when there will be plenty of new faces in the Red Wings dressing room.
Gone are Mathieu Schneider, Todd Bertuzzi, Robert Lang and Kyle Calder while the newcomers include Brian Rafalski and Dallas Drake.